"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. ”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt

Sunday, September 13, 2009

I know its early, but.....

Steve and Steve may disagree with me. I may cost myself a friendship or two. But, you want to know who I am going to vote for for mayor?

I'll tell you. Its Myron Lowery. And he doesn't have a shot in hell of winning due to an effective smear campaign that he isn't one of us in Whitehaven.

In the short period of time he has been the temporary Mayor, Myron has gone after the Herenton cronies and done a lot of the things that those of us who oppose Herenton wish that we could believe that AC would do, but know that AC's desire to be liked prevents him from doing. Myron won't win because the Herentonites in Whitehaven and the surrounding areas will support Cleveland Brown, er, I mean Charles Carpenter, and AC. Chumney's campaign is similar to Myron's and will splinter off the white vote that could have put Myron over the top.

Now I admit, Myron was played like a sucka by Willie in the whole resignation debacle. However, I thought then and still do now that Myron did what he had to do by setting up a transition team and making himself look Mayoral so that he could have a good shot at winning.

Here'e to you Myron. I raise my glass to your ultimately unsuccessful try at Mayor.

I've seen mayors firsthand since Bill Ingram in the 60's. All, to one extent or another, have been divisive, polarizing figures. So when you say A C "desires" to be liked, I wonder what the problem is. You are implying that he has an overwhelming need to be liked which I haven't seen at all. What I do see is someone who is inclusive, consensus building, and doesn't need to create drama to govern. To me that is the definition of a successful politician but something that most Memphians have no memory of seeing in a mayor. After 2-3 generations of seeing this type of candidate fall by the electoral wayside, this is the best shot we have yet.

While Myron has a lot of positives, I question his political skills, which you mention as well. I see the others as more of the same.

myron's who i'm leaning toward at this point as well....i just can't shake a slightly dirty feeling about AC. it's nowhere near the filth of willie, but i've been impressed with myron's direct approach in interviews, and immediately contacting department heads for answers, instead of giving time for excuses.

i agree he won't win, but unless something changes in the next month, he's got my vote.

Everyone here knows my affiliations and biases, but I'd be remiss if I didn't defend Mayor Wharton against allegations of being "boring." His ideas for modernizing government, decentralizing City Hall, and really, truly PLANNING for this city's growth - focusing on NEIGHBORHOODS other than downtown - are darn near thrilling and vastly more progressive than anything that any other candidate has mentioned.

Also not sure what the Mayor's "desire to be liked" refers to or what it's prevented. He'll be the first to proudly say that he IS a consensus builder and somebody who likes to gather input from the people he's leading before acting. It's one of the things that differentiates him from the previous administration.

I know we have to choose from those on the ballot, but where has the new Myron been the last 17 years ??? I think the city needs a major shift in its focus on crime and education, and I don't see it coming from Myron.

Myron's inept handling of Jefferson's firing demonstrates his lack of political ability to do what must be done. Further, his litigious employment history points up an inablilty to deal with or resolve difficult situations.